Washington, D.C.– Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement after a federal appeals court ruled last week that the United States government cannot require U.S.-funded foreign assistance organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services globally to deny services to sex workers:

“As a long time advocate against the ‘anti-prostitution pledge’, I welcome the federal appeals court ruling against the Bush Administration’s policy that requires organizations receiving U.S. funds to fight HIV/AIDS globally to oppose prostitution.

“For years now, I have pushed for the repeal of this policy because it impedes the global AIDS response by weakening HIV prevention efforts among sex workers and exacerbating stigma and discrimination against already marginalized groups.

“For too long, this policy tied the hands of international health service organizations from providing evidence-based services to an at-risk group that cannot afford to be ignored in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

“In order for us to put an end to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, we need every tool in our toolbox to reach all affected populations. I call on the President to stop the enforcement of the ‘anti-prostitution pledge’ and look forward to the Administration’s continued work to end the global HIV crisis.”

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Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. She co-authored legislation signed into law creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in 2000, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003, the PEPFAR Reauthorization Act in 2008, and in 2005 legislation addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.  She has also been a leader in the effort to establish a National AIDS Strategy, and is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services & Education with jurisdiction over all domestic HIV/AIDS funding.  She is the only United States representative on United Nations Development Programme’s Global Commission on HIV and the Law and was the original sponsor of legislation that lead to the repeal of the Immigration and Travel ban that barred the entry of HIV positive individuals. The repeal allowed the International AIDS conference - scheduled for July 2012 in Washington DC - to be held in the U.S. after 20 years.

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